Wu Zetian became a monk at Baima Temple (the real historical story of Wu Zetian becoming a monk at Baima Temple)

Keywords: Wu Zetian became a monk at Baima Temple

In Chinese history, Wu Zetian Undoubtedly a controversial figure. As the only female emperor of the Tang Dynasty, she held the power of the country for 15 years. However, there is a little-known part of her story - Wu Zetian became a monk at White Horse Temple. This story reveals her faith in Buddhism and political wisdom, while also letting us know more about this female ruler in history.

## Prelude: Wu Zetian’s Political Wisdom

Wu Zetian was the only female emperor in the history of the Tang Dynasty, and her reign was known as "The Great Prosperity of Zetian". With her intelligence and excellent political skills, she successfully stabilized the domestic situation, strengthened foreign exchanges, and brought the Tang Dynasty to the peak of prosperity. However, her political skills and Machiavellian tactics were not her only attributes.

## Chapter 1: Wu Zetian’s Buddhist Belief

Wu Zetian’s belief in Buddhism can be traced back to the Xianyang period when she was young. According to records, she once met an eminent monk in a small temple in Xianyang, and the eminent monk predicted her future destiny. This encounter changed Wu Zetian's life trajectory, and she began to have a strong interest in Buddhism.

During Wu Zetian's reign, Buddhism developed greatly. She strongly supported the spread of Buddhism and promoted the development of Buddhism at the national level. She personally ordered the construction of many Buddhist temples, including the famous White Horse Temple.

## Chapter 2: Historical Background of White Horse Temple

Baima Temple is located in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province today. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Chinese history. According to historical records, the establishment of White Horse Temple can be traced back to the late Eastern Han Dynasty. This temple is famous all over the world because Wu Zetian became a monk.

The architectural style of Baima Temple is unique, and many precious Buddhist cultural relics and works of art are preserved inside the temple. The murals, stone carvings and Buddhist statues here are of high artistic value, attracting countless tourists and believers to visit and worship.

## Chapter 3: The story of Wu Zetian becoming a monk at White Horse Temple

The story of Wu Zetian becoming a monk at White Horse Temple can be traced back to her later years. At that time, Wu Zetian had abdicated, but her belief in Buddhism became even stronger. She decided to become a nun at the White Horse Temple to express her devotion to Buddhism and her abandonment of worldly power.

According to historical records, Wu Zetian was wearing white clothes and a phoenix crown when she walked into the White Horse Temple. Witnessed by many monks and believers, she was ordained as a nun and changed her name to "Shi Daocheng". This incident caused a huge sensation in the society at that time, because Wu Zetian, as a woman, was able to become a monk at the White Horse Temple, which was very rare at the time.

## Chapter 4: The significance of Wu Zetian’s becoming a monk

Wu Zetian’s move to become a monk at the White Horse Temple was not only an expression of religious belief, but also a symbol of her later years.a political means. Through this move, she sent multiple messages to the people and political opponents.

First of all, Wu Zetian's becoming a monk showed her devout belief in Buddhism, which further strengthened her reputation among Buddhists. This move helped her establish a noble image among the people and made her rule more stable.

Secondly, Wu Zetian’s becoming a monk was also a response to her political opponents. In her later years, she faced pressure and threats from political opponents. By becoming a monk, she signaled to her political opponents that she had renounced worldly power and no longer had any political influence. On the one hand, this move weakens the attack points of political opponents, and on the other hand, it also retains a certain political influence for itself.

## Conclusion: The significance of Wu Zetian becoming a monk at White Horse Temple

The story of Wu Zetian becoming a monk at White Horse Temple shows her devout belief in Buddhism and political wisdom. This move was not only an expression of her personal religious beliefs, but also part of her political approach in her later years. Through this move, she skillfully balanced the relationship between religion and politics, further consolidating her dominance.

As one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Chinese history, White Horse Temple witnessed Wu Zetian’s becoming a monk and her promotion of Buddhism. Today, White Horse Temple has become an important tourist attraction, attracting countless tourists and believers to visit and worship.

In any case, the story of Wu Zetian becoming a monk at White Horse Temple provides us with a more comprehensive understanding of this woman in history. Opportunities for rulers. Her political wisdom and belief in Buddhism have left us a precious historical legacy and made our evaluation of her more comprehensive and objective.